Estimation of Groundwater Flow Rate into Jikri Tunnel Using Groundwater Fluctuation Data and Modeling

In general, understanding groundwater flow in fractured bedrock is critical during tunnel and underground cavern construction. In that case, borehole data may be useful to examine groundwater flow properties of the fractured bedrock from pre-excavation until completion stages, yet sufficient borehole data is not often available to acquire. This study evaluated groundwater discharge rate into Jikri tunnel in Gyeonggi province using hydraulic parameters, groundwater level data in the later stage of tunneling, national groundwater monitoring network data, and electrical resistivity survey data. Groundwater flow rate into the tunnel by means of analytical method was estimated while the groundwater flow rate was determined as by means of numerical modeling. The estimated values provided by the numerical modeling may be more logical than those of the analytical method because the numerical modeling could take into account spatial variation of hydraulic parameters that was not possible by using the analytical method. Transient modeling for a period of one year from the tunnel completion resulted in the recovery of pre-excavation groundwater level.